MARVIN LEWIS
 Lewis |
Opening comments:
“This Sunday at the game against the Saints, the Bengals and the Marine Corps Reserves are teaming up for the annual Toys for Tots collection. The Marine Corps Reserve units will be at all of the entrances collecting new, unwrapped toys and cash donations. All of the contributions benefit the less fortunate in our community. More than 42,000 children have benefitted over the last few years with this. I want to encourage the fans as they come out to bring a new, unwrapped toy or make a donation.
“As we look forward to the Saints, the first thing is obviously the fun and challenge of the preparation of this football game against a very fast-paced and what has been a high-powered offense. Defensively, they’re very aggressive and have done a great job over the last few years with takeaways and turnovers, so we have to do a great job of ball security. That’s really the key to the football game, it’s securing the ball and the ability to run the football and stop the run and not allow the explosive plays that they’re so capable of making offensively.”
On the Saints having numerous weapons:
“Yeah, they do. They play all three tight ends. (Jeremy) Shockey has been hurt over the past few weeks, but (WR Marques) Colston is averaging 10.6 yards per reception this year. They’re doing a good job. His (Drew Brees’) interceptions are up a little bit from what they’ve been in the past, the sacks are up from what they’ve been in the past, so it’s not quite where they were a year ago with it, but I think they’ve been getting better week-in and week-out.”
On Brees:
“Well, I think he’s a very effective player. He moves well in the pocket and gets the ball out of his hand when appropriate, when not he’s willing to sit in there and wait on the ball to go vertical. We have to do a good job of staying in the right leverages and make some plays on the football.”
On the aggressiveness of Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams:
“Well, they blitz the norm. It depends opponent-to-opponent on how they’re going to play. They’ve had some injuries in the secondary, so they’ve had to adjust a little bit there, but they’re a big, good group up front. I think their linebackers play very, very well and do a nice job in coverage and with pressure as add-on guys. They create a lot of pressure that way.”
On the health of the Bengals secondary:
“I think we’ll be fine.”
On how tough it is to judge the range of a new kicker from just practice:
“I see a lot of him because I see the entire practice session every day. You don’t get to see a lot of him, but I get to see quite a bit of him. I have a pretty good feel and I always talk with (special teams coach) Darrin (Simmons) after we warm up on game day and see how things went. I get Darrin’s mindset of how the kicker’s mindset is. Then I’ll make my judgments based on yardage and distance from that.”
On how the Bengals decided on K 
“You always have a list of guys that are ‘on the street.’ The personnel people are always looking at that, and who are the best candidates to bring in and physically meet with and work out. And we did that with Clint on Tuesday.”
CARSON PALMER
 Palmer |
“The Thursday night thing is good. It is a short week and quick preparation for the upcoming opponent, but it's kind of like an extra bye week. You get a couple days off, really let your body rest and heal. Unfortunately the Saints also played on Thursday, so they got the same opportunity we did, but it was good for us and get a chance to watch other games on Sunday and put the past in the past and move forward.”
On how Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams compares to Rex Ryan:
“They bring quite a few pressures, but I wouldn't compare them to the Jets -- two completely different styles and fronts and coverages. But it's a very good unit, very fast with an aggressive coordinator and guys that read combinations well in the back end and see schemes unfold and jump things. Just a really good unit overall. There's really not a weakness to their unit.”
On his frustration after last week’s game:
“I think you've got to let those things go. It's a new week, start fresh and not let what happens last week or the last 12 weeks or whatever it's been affect your upcoming preparation. Having a little extra time to get it out of your system and a little extra time to prepare for the next opponent is a good thing, too.”
On the pressure he faced from the Jets:
“I think they present more pressures with more secondary players coming than most teams. They did a nice job on some games they were playing up front (at the line of scrimmage) and getting guys free. It was a good defense. It was a rough night obviously. But when you play against that defense, you've got to get the ball out quick and you've got to be ready to get rid of it. Being able to do what they can do with those two corners and cover guys downfield, it makes them one of the best defenses in the league.”
On playing the “spoiler” role the last five games:
“Absolutely. We have a chance to play three division opponents coming up. You have a chance to ruin some people's seasons and definitely affect some people's seasons. We've got nothing to lose. We're in a situation where we can kind of change the outcome of the postseason and change who goes with a win here or a win there, and that's what we're playing for right now.”
On what makes Drew Brees a great quarterback:
“A lot of things. He moves very well in the pocket. They get a lot of receivers out, a lot of potential receivers out, whether it's running backs, tight ends, and get rid of the ball quick. They run a lot of short, intermediate routes and the ball's out before the D-line even has a chance really to get close to the quarterback. Everybody's a threat in their offense, and he does a good job of spreading the ball out to everybody.”
On whether the feeling of where they are has sunken in:
“I think it's sunken in. I think everyone in our locker room understands where we are and why we're here. -- more importantly, why we've put ourselves in this situation. We've been on the opposite end where we're fighting for a playoff spot and trying to get in and playing against teams that aren't going to get in, they're trying to knock us out. That's the situation we're in.”
On staying focused on the present versus the offseason:
“Actually, it’s not that difficult. There's so much to prepare for each week and each game that it really doesn't matter what's going to happen at the end of the year. All that matters is this game, and nothing's going to happen today or on Monday morning. You just need to prepare for each game, to be focused and ready to play at your best and play at a high level. And whatever happens at the end of the year and in the offseason is going to happen. But I think the main thing is, it does no good to worry about that right now. There's really no reason to. There's no advantage to it. The only advantage you have is your team playing well, you playing well as an individual and preparing yourself to play well.”
On if he’s cognizant of cameras watching what he does on the sideline:
“I don't know if I've ever been on the sideline and worried about what I was doing individually. I just try to handle myself professionally in every situation and not worry about what camera might be on me or who's watching. You focus on what you're doing and on what the next series is about and what pressures you think you're going to see or what defense you think you're going to see. You've got so much to worry about during the game that you can't worry about what camera might have seen what.”
On if the offense is better now than it was in September:
“That's definitely the goal, but it definitely doesn't feel that way right now.”
On why that’s the case:
“(There are) a ton of reasons, from top to bottom across the board. It's not one issue. I don't know if it ever is one issue, but it's definitely not one issue right now.”
CHAD OCHOCINCO (with the New Orleans media)
 Ochocinco |
“No. Football’s different (from soccer). Regardless of the weather we’re able to adjust to it a lot better than soccer.”
Is too much made of a warm weather dome team visiting a cold weather outdoors team?
“It means nothing at all. The Saints have enough experience in the postseason and of sometimes having to go on the road to play games where it’s cold. I can bet you it’s irrelevant in this situation.”
Can you give us the state of your team? You guys must think you’re better than 2-9?
“Of course. We’re a lot better than that. You look at it on paper. You would think there is no way we should be in the predicament we are in right now. But we are. It’s an unfortunate situation. We have nobody else to blame but ourselves. The spirits are still high. I’m staying as positive as possible, trying to make sure everybody else is on the same page and continuing to try to find a way to get these last five games under us and get some W’s.”
Does that mean the Saints are coming to face a dangerous team in that sense?
“Yes. We’re hungry. We’re looking to get that W to get things rolling and get that losing taste out of our mouths. This week, I’m quoting that it’s going to be a messy Sunday. That’s my theme for this game.”
What does that mean?
“When you spell messy MESSY. I’m not going to tell you but when you’re from the New Orleans area, the area of New Orleans, anywhere in Louisiana, you would know exactly what I mean. I’m going to have a messy Sunday. We as a team are going to have messy catches and messy touchdowns and I’m going to give them the messy shoulder. You guys might not know what that means, but I guarantee you, you’ll figure it out before the day ends.”
Darren Sharper has only been back for a couple games, but what do you see as the difference in the secondary from when he is on the field and when he is not?
“He’s a threat. He’s one of the smartest corners in the NFL, really, really savvy. He’s real savvy back there. He probably knows what play you’re going to run before you run it based on his knowledge of the game and playing so long. They’ve been on point. Against the pass, they’re ranked what, seventh or fifth in the league, something like that. They’re not that bad against the run. The defense is solid. When Jenkins has been back there he’s made some big plays for them, especially the one I saw against Dallas where he took the ball away from Roy. They’re solid across the board. The cornerback position, there aren’t any slouches out there. Those boys are pretty good.”
Did you ever pay Sean Payton back a few years ago for those tickets?
“I don’t think I did. You tell Sean I owe him. Tell him I owe him. You have a good messy day.”
SAINTS HEAD COACH SEAN PAYTON (with the Cincinnati media)
On the last time he was in Oxford (Payton coached at Miami University from 1994-95):
“I think after the ’06 season, they had a high school coaches clinic and I had the chance to watch a spring practice.”
On Miami playing for the MAC championship Friday:
“That’s what I understand. We have a handful of Miami connections here (strength coach, offensive line, assistant strength coach, running backs). It’s somewhat typical of our industry, and guys that I’ve worked with in the past that are all on this staff call this area home. It will be good for them to get back, other than the ticket issue.”
On Moeller graduate G/C Matt Tennant:
“Matt’s doing well. He’s done a great job of handling the guard and center position. He’s been very impressive in his first year. We’ve been healthy on the line. He hasn’t played. Early on in training camp and the preseason, we were encouraged with the early signs in his transition -- all of that coming after he lost his mother. It was a difficult training camp for him.”
On Milford native Zach Strief:
“He’s had to play and start games at tackle. He’ll play in a number of two-tight end spots. He’s very intelligent. He’s started games at left and right tackle for us. He can do a lot of things, and that’s a good thing for a young player like him.”
On defending the Super Bowl title:
“There are a handful of challenges mentally and physically. Your schedule changes because of how late you play the season you just finished. Your offseason program changes. The time you want to spend in minicamp and training camp, you have to look closely at -- look at the reps that your players are taking, the mental aspect of success, and refocus and reenergize and set new goals with a new team. Those are all things each player and coach has to deal with. Those are good challenges to have.
“Nonetheless, there’s that human nature element that once you played that final game and won it, you have to find a way to really fool your mind and create that edge again. We’ve been playing better football clearly the last month, and I like the leadership in the locker room. We’ve had good weeks of preparation. We’ve been able to get some guys healthy and hopefully we can continue to play consistently well in what is a competitive NFC right now.”
On why the Saints have played better lately:
“I think the one thing we’ve been able to do -- you hear it every week -- we’ve really been able to focus one week at a time. We recognize there’s still five weeks of the season left. Five games in baseball is relatively short. Five weeks in football is a lot. The players have done a really good job of just looking at the next game and not really looking hard. That’s hard to do. I think that’s harder to do today than it was 10 or 15 years ago, because each week so much is covered in our game and that goes with it. We have been able to focus on the game that week that we need to play.”
On Drew Brees’ better play of late after struggling with interceptions:
“He went through a stretch and during that stretch, we probably weren’t running the ball as efficiently as we would have liked and probably weren’t doing enough things offensively that we would have liked. When that happens, that pressure then usually is put in the quarterback’s lap. He is playing at a higher level now. I think overall, our team is playing better football and we recognize that a week ago, we played a very good Cowboys team, although their record doesn’t indicate that. Clearly, they were one of the teams to beat a year ago in the postseason and we really look at Cincinnati the same way. Although their wins don’t add up to where they want to be, it’s a team that just finished off winning a very tough division and went unbeaten in the division a year ago and you can see that on tape. The focus still starts and stays internally.”
On Brees winning Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year:
“I think it’s a tremendous honor. All you have to do is look at the prior winners. I wasn’t really aware of it. Today with the newspaper, I was aware of his award and proud like everyone is here. Then you start looking at the prior winners and it’s a pretty amazing list. I can’t think of anyone who would be more deserving. He’s someone who is unselfish and team-oriented and with all that has taken place since he’s arrived and you talk about the city. There are a lot of things that are really unprecedented. I think more than anything else we are all proud of him.”
On his relationship with Mike Zimmer (the two coached together for three years in Dallas):
“Generally during the season, we might have a phone call or two. His son Adam had been with us for the Super Bowl and after this past season got hired by the Kansas City Chiefs. So, occasionally I’ll talk with Adam. Periodically, I’ll talk with Mike. It was great to see Mike and his two daughters that we know very well at the Super Bowl. I remember at the pregame just seeing them on the sidelines and just having a chance to visit briefly right before that game. Here’s Mike’s son coaching on a Super Bowl team and Mike’s daughters. There is their older brother having success. We are proud of the job he did here and the opportunity he has here with Kansas City coaching the linebackers. Mike’s always been a very close friend to my family. We worked together in Dallas and have always stayed in touch. Professionally, we see each other at the combines and league events, but it was a lot more than that and still is. Again, it’s something that still saddens us (referring to the death last year of Mike Zimmer’s wife, Vikki). They were very close friends of us and my wife.”
On Zimmer’s daughters formerly babysitting for Payton’s kids:
“They lived four or five blocks away from where our house was, and their daughters were at that right age where when we needed babysitters. Either Corri or Marki would usually be one of the two that were babysitting, so our kids knew them very early on when we moved to Dallas. Beth and Vikki were very close, and Mike and I worked together. At that time Adam was at college so you’d see Adam occasionally, but we’d see the daughters more.”
On the Bengals being 2-9:
“Well, all you have to do is look closely at the nine, and seven of the nine come down to a final drive. You have seasons where, and we see this with teams that are winning right now – you take a look at the Atlanta Falcons. They are a great example of a team that has done a great job of finishing games, winning close games in the fourth quarter. When you look at Cincinnati and you try to look at the difference between ’09 and ’10, of those nine losses, seven of them within the last three minutes of the game can go either direction. It’s a team that when we study them, and we’ve had an additional time here just as they have because of our Thursday game, you see effort, you see energy, you see a lot of the things that allow a team to be successful.
“I think that looking closely at the level of competition, when you watch them play the Jets, the win against the Ravens, the Steelers, the Dolphins, and you can go on and on through their season, they’ve lost a lot of close games. But they’re a good football team. Their record doesn’t indicate that but that’s why you have a certain level of disappointment because you recognize that they’re just one year removed from winning that division, and that’s what we see on film, and when you look closely at those losses, you can point to seven of them that come down to the final two and a half, three minutes of the game.”
On him giving
“Yeah, we’ve been even-steven for about three and a half years now. He also signed a hat for my son that my son still has up in his bedroom.”
On Ochocinco remembering the tickets from that game more than the 190 yards and three touchdowns:
“Listen, my son will have him up in fantasy (football) this week and he won’t even flinch. I’ll look at the list before I leave and say, ‘What are you doing?’ And he’ll say, ‘I just like the matchup.’ "
SAINTS QB DREW BREES (with the Cincinnati media)
On the trip to New York to accept the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award:
“The good thing was we played Thursday last week. We got Friday-Sunday off to spend with our families, and I could do all the preparation then because I knew I had the trip coming up. It was a great trip. It was a whirlwind but a great honor, and something I’ll cherish forever.”
On the significance of the award:
“It’s unbelievable when you think about what that honor means. They give it to one person or team during the course of a year and it includes all sports and it’s worldwide. The last 10-15 years it’s been pretty exclusive to Americans. It’s unbelievable, very humbling, and there’s a big responsibility that comes with it, too – just to continue to do great things on and off the field.”
On if he met any prior winners:
“Mike Eruzione, the captain of the ’80 (U.S. Men’s Olympic) hockey team, who I met before and played golf with. Joe Montana, who was a childhood idol. Curt Schilling representing the ’04 Red Sox. Billie Jean King, who won in ’72, and then Bill Russell. I had never met Billie Jean King, Bill Russell or Curt Schilling.”
On if it’s hit him that he’s in elite company:
“I look at that list and I go, ‘Are you sure you have the right guy?’ I mean, look at the list – it’s Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Bill Russell, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and the list goes on and on. You sit there and shake your head and say ‘Man, to even be in the same sentence is unfathomable.’ I feel much feel like I’m representing the city of New Orleans and my team for what has happened the last five years. It’s just a tremendous honor to be there.”
On the team’s confidence right now:
“I feel like we’re playing some of our best football, and this is the time where you need to be in order to separate yourself from the rest of the bunch. For us we knew this was going to be a tough season at times and face adversity -- coming off a Super Bowl championship and all the things that come along with that. I feel like we have handled it well. We have faced adversity early on with injuries but we stuck together. (We’re) getting healthy at the right time, and this is when you need to make a run at it.”
On the 2006 game against the Bengals, when he threw for 510 yards but the Saints lost 31-16:
“We turned the ball over at least three times, and that will get you beat. That was a different team on both sides, us and them. I don’t look to that game and put much into it. We’re going on the road and we’ll handle what the weather conditions are. What I see on film is a talented defense that’s suffered a lot of injuries. They’ll be ready to play us.”
On what makes the Bengals defense different from 2006:
“I think just to start, when I look at their corner position. You have two top-flight corners. As far as the scheme that Coach Zimmer’s brought, it’s a little more exotic than what they had then. We only face an AFC team once every four years, unless you play in the Super Bowl.”
